Amusement device.



L. STEPHANY & O. GRUPP.

ANIUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPUCAUON FILED ri.18.1915.

l ,21 2,277, Patented Jan. 16, 19N.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@Winmx Mc In MCM L. STEPHANY 6L O. GRUPP.

AMUSEIVIENT DEVICE.

APPucATxoN FILED FEB.18.1915.

Patented Jan. N17.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WHW/Wogen 14T FFQ.

AivrUsEMnN'r nnvrcn.

Application filed February 18, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, LUDWIG STEPHANY and Offro Gnnrr, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices and has particular application to what might be termed a footmobile for the use of children.

In carrying out the present invention, it is our purpose to provide a device of the class described which may be used for coasting on the pavements, which may be readily used on ice and snow and which may be converted from a pavement vehicle to an ice vehicle and vice versa in the minimum time vand without the aid of special tools or implements.

It is also our purpose to provide a vehicle of the type set forth which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability, which may be manufactured and marketed at a minimum expense and which will operate efficiently and effectively for its intended purpose.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig.` 2 is a view in front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa front elevation showing a modified form Vof the invention. Fig. 6 is a like view showing a still yfurther modiiedconstruction. Fig. 7 is a .fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the device illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the device used as an ice vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 1 designates a runner of substantially inverted T-shape in cross section and having the forward end thereof curved upwardly as at 2 and formed with an upwardly extending flange 3. Secured to the opposite Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

Serial No. 9,020.

sides of the vertical limbs of the runner 1 and uprising therefrom adjacent to the forward end of the runner are uprights 4 having the upper extremities thereofl bent outwardly at right angles and secured to the vertical limbs of the runner adjacent to the rear end thereof and uprising therefrom are uprights 5 having the upper extremities thereof bent outwardly at right angles. Fastened to the right angular extremities of the uprights is a foot rest 6 disposed in a horizontal plane and spaced apart a short distance from the runner 1 and lying parallel therewith. This foot rest 6 is of such length as to accommodate the foot of the user of the device.

7 designates a steering post extending upwardly from the runner 2 adjacent to the forward end of the latter and having the up per end thereof provided with a handle 8 secured to the post through the medium of a strap iron 9 surrounding the handle 1 and havingthe opposite limbs thereof in face to face contact with the opposite sides of the steering post 7 and secured thereto through the medium of bolts 10 or other appropriate fastening devices. Disposed upon the opposite side edges of the steering post 7 at the lower end portion thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom are metal straps 11, 11 secured to the steering post by means of transverse bolts 12 passed through alining openings in the straps and the steering post.

The lower end portions of the metal straps 11 are disposed at opposite sides of the forward extremity of the runner 1 and formed in the straps 11 below the adjacent end of the post 7 are openings 13 alining with an elongated slot 14 formed in the vertical memberof the runner 1 and through these alining openings and slot is passed a securing bolt 15 whereby the forward end portion of the runner 1 is secured to the straps 11 and suspended therefrom. The lower extremities of the straps 11 are formed with horizontally alining openings in which is mounted an axle 16 and rotatably mounted upon the axle 16 is a roller 17. Mounted upon the rear end portion of the runner 1 and capable of sliding movement onto and off of the horizontal member or limb of such runner is a securing plate 18 formed with upwardly and inwardly extending flanges 19 that embrace the respective side edges of the vhorizontal member of the runner and form a way for such member of the runner.

Formed integral with the forward end of the plate 18 and depending therefrom are arms 2O having the lower' ends thereof formed with horizontally alining openings in which is mounted an axle 21. Rotatably mounted upon the axle 21 is a roller 22 cooperating with the roller 17 to support the bottom edge of the runner above the ground. Projecting upwardly from the rear end portions of the side edges of the plate 18 are ears 23 formed with openings 24 alining with an opening in the vertical member of the runner to receive a securing pin 25 whereby accidental longitudinal movement of the plate 18 relatively to the runner is prevented. The lower end of the post 7 is formed with a vertical slot 26 adapted to receive the vertical member of the runner 1 when the device is used as an ice vehicle (Fig. 8), and the lower end portion of the post-7 is formed with a transverse opening 26 intersecting the slot 26 and registering with an opening in the vertical member of the runner to receive a securing bolt whereby the steering post may be fastened to the runner.

When using the device as a pavement vehicle, the steering post 7 is secured to the forward end portion of the runner 1 and supports the latter as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the plate 18 is slipped over the rear end portion of the runner and secured thereto by means of the bolt 25, while the rollers 17 and 22 are disposed below the forward and rear end portions of the runner 1. The user of the vehicle places one foot upon the rest 6 and uses the other foot fo'r propelling purposes and by means ofthe pin and slot connection 15 and 14 between the straps 11 and the forward end portion of the runner, a flexible connection is provided, thereby enabling the device to be readily and conveniently steered. In order that the steering post 7 will be held securely in proper position relatively to the runner 1 an eye 27 surrounds the steering post 7 adjacent to the flange 3 and is formed with a shank 28 that projects through an opening in the flange 3 and threaded upon the shank 28 is a thumb nut 29 whereby the eye is securely fastened to the iiange 3 on the curved forward end portion 2 of the runner 1.

Vhen it is desired to use the device as an ice vehicle, the pin 25 is withdrawn and the and the opening 26 in the lower end portion of the steering post brought into registration with the slot 14 to receive the bolt.

` Thus, the under surface of the horizontal member of the runner 1 may be placed in contact with the snow or ice and the device propelled over such snow or ice.v In this case straps 11 which are applied to the sides of the post 7 and receive the bolts 12 and the pin 15, and which do not extend below the runner, may be substituted for the straps 11, as shown in Fig. 8, to strengthen the post.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the forward end portion of they runner 1 is disposed within a substantially U-shaped suspension bearing 30 and theopposite limbs of the bearing 30 are formed `with openings that register with a similar opening in the vertical limb of the runner and through these openings is passed an axle 31, while rotatably mounted upon the outer ends of the axle 31 andsecured thereon by means of cotter pins 32 are rollers 33.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the suspension bearing 30 is mounted within a substantially U-shaped frame 34 having the upper extremities of the limbs thereof offset inwardly and disposed at the opposite sides of the steering post 7 and secured thereto by means of a bolt 35 passed through openings in the limbs of the frame 34 registering with the opening in the'lower portion of the handle. The bearing 30 is secured to the vertical member of the runner l by means of a pin 36-passed through the alining openings in the limbs of the bearing 30 and the vertical member of the runner. Secured to the under surface of the interconnecting member of the frame 34 and depending therefrom is a yoke 37 and passed through the limbs of the yoke 37 is the axle 31 carrying the rollers 33. A pivot bolt 38 projects through the central members of the frame 34 and the yoke 37 respectively and fixedly unites them, and is pivoted to the under surface of the U-shaped bearing 30". By means of this construction, it will be seen that when the device is in use as a pavement vehicle the forward axle may be swung relatively to the runner 1 for steering purposes.

ica

In this construction the parts 30 and 34 take I the place of the straps 11.

While we have herein shown and described certain preferred forms of our invention by lway of illustration, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit or confine ourselves to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the Y scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A devicey of the class described com- A prising a runner adapted to tra-verse ice and snow, a steering post connected to said runner adjacent to the forward end thereof, a roller carried by said steering post and disposed below the runner, a second roller, a detachable connection between the secondmentioned roller and the rear end portion of said runner, uprights secured to said runner and upstanding therefrom, and a foot rest carried by the upper ends of said uprights and spaced apart from said runner and parallel therewith.

2. A device of the class described comprising a runner adapted to tra-verse ice and snow and having the forward end thereof curved upwardly and formed with an upwardly extending flange, a steering post, a flexible connection between the lower end of said steering post and said runner, a roller, a detachable connection between said roller and said steering post, a second roller, and a detachable connection between the last-mentioned roller and the rear end portion of said runner.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination: an ice runner, detachable front and rear rollers, the front roller being movable with respect to said runner for steering purposes, a steering post connected with said front roller to turn the same laterally relatively to the runner, and means whereby the steering post may be connected non-rotatably with the runner when the rollers are detached.

4. A sled comprising a single integral runner formed from a T iron and having its front end bent upward to form a brace, an upright secured to the upright rib of the runner, means for attaching the upright to the brace, a handle bar carried by the upper end of the upright for tipping said runner to either side to maintain the balancing of the sled and change the direction of travel thereof, a foot board, and means for attaching said foot board to the runner.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 5. A sled comprising a single integral runner formed from a. T iron and having its front end bent upward to form a brace, an upright secured to the upright rib of the runner, means for attaching the upright to the brace, a handle bar carried by the upper end of the upright for tipping said runner to either side to maintain the balancing of the sled and change the direction of travel thereof, brackets secured to the upright rib of the runner and a foot board mounted thereon for the purpose specified.

6. A sled comprising a single integral runner having its front end bent upward to form a brace, brackets secured to said run* ner and projecting upwardly therefrom, a foot board mounted on said brackets, an upright provided with attaching plates, means for pivotally mounting said upright upon the runner, means for attaching said upright to the brace, a handle bar mounted upon said upright, an axle mounted in the end of the attaching plates, wheels mounted on said axle, a U shaped bearing plate underlying the runner, an axle passing through the bearing plate and runner, and wheels mounted on said axle.

7. A combination sled and skatemobile comprising a single integral runner, an upright carried thereby, a handle bar secured to said upright, brackets secured to the runner, a foot board secured to said brackets and wheels detachably secured to said runner and upright.

In testimony whereof we aHX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LUDWIG STEPHANY. OTTO GRUPP. Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. PEACE, PAULINE RosEMARY.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

